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Watandost in Urdu, Turkish and Farsi means "friend of the nation or country". The blog contains news and views about Pakistan and broader South West Asia that are insightful but are often not part of the headlines. It also covers major debates in Muslim societies across the world.

GOOD OMEN FOR SOUTH ASIA: India to support Pakistan in getting IMF help: Manmohan Singh

India to support Pakistan in getting IMF help: Manmohan Singh The News, October 26, 2008

NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said that Pakistan is in serious difficulties, adding we want to see a strong and successful democratic government in Pakistan.

He said, “India will support Pakistan government's effort to tide over a serious financial crunch by backing Islamabad's plan to seek help from the IMF.”

"I wish the new democratic government in Pakistan well. We would like them to succeed," Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said, a day after he had a one-on-one meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani in the Chinese capital Beijing.

"Pakistan is in serious difficulties and is going to the IMF. We will support Pakistan getting help from the IMF," Singh told reporters who accompanied him on his visit to Japan and China.

Singh said he and Gilani discussed "all issues having a bearing on our bilateral relations and I would say that there was a near complete meeting of mind." However, Singh remained skeptical whether the new government in Islamabad can keep its promises.

During his meeting with Chinese Premier Hu Juntao, both countries agreed to achieve the trade target of $60 billion by 2010. They also expressed their willingness to launch a joint effort against terrorism.

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